Grey area around object when using 3D effect

[Reshleman]

I'm trying to apply a simple bevel to a shape I've created. When I apply the 3D effect it's applying to the entire object instead of the paths. Hopefully between that explanation and the screenshot it makes sense. 

Thank you, 

Rhett 

[Reshleman]

[Monika Gause]

Please show the layers panel and an outline view

[Kurt Gold]

It's not quite sure about what issue you are talking here. Even your screenshot does not clarify it.

Can you clarify a bit and explain what you are doing and what is going wrong in your eyes?

[Reshleman]

Thanks for the response, Kurt. I want to make just the blue teardrop 3D but when I go to apply the effect the entire selection/object is getting the effect. In other words, I don't want any grey in the screenshot. 

This may confuse things a bit more, or maybe put it in perspective. If I use the Selection tool and click the teardrop it is "outlined" in a complete rectangle like the screenshot. This outline is the same thing that gets the 3D effect applied. However, if I use the add anchor point tool just the actual teardrop is selected without the outlined rectangle. 

It's possible I'm not understanding the abilities of the 3D effect. Can this only be used with shapes like circles, squares, rectangles? 

thanks for the help! 

[Carlos Garro]

Hi.

You can apply the 3D to any object, but maybe there is something wrong in yours.

Share your appearance panel with the object selected to investigate.

[Reshleman · Accepted solution]

Figured it out. There was a drop shadow fx also applied to it. When I removed that the 3D effect appears without the grey around the entire teardrop. Thanks for the advice. 

[Travis_C_Editor]

Hey, so I ran into the same problem as you when trying to use additional effects with 3D. Any advice on how to use multiple effects with 3D without having that grey box surround it?

[Louis-Courtney5EA5]

I had the same issue this morning which I haven't had before - turned out that my image which is transparent on Photoshop, wasn't transparent on Illustrator, so once I sorted that out it was fine.